Home | Quick Index
In October , Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of animals is honored in the Roman Catholic Church. Everyone should be extra kind to animals during this time. I think St. Francis of Assisi would be shocked about the following if he were alive today. Back on July 1, 1998, Craig Gates, owner of "Sampson" a St. Bernard dog called emergency 911 three times (3x) because his dog became lethargic and was having difficulty in breathing. Mr. Gates, because of a neck injury, was incapable of lifting the 190 lb.. dog and carrying him downstairs to the car, so that he could drive Sampson to the emergency vet clinic. None of Gates's neighbors would help him with dog; so Gates had to call 911. On the first 911 call, the dispatcher told Gates that they don't handle those kind of calls. Gates called a second time and got the same dispatcher. Gates called a third time and got angry because no one would help him, and said "screw you" and hung-up. A few minutes later Officers Kim Mortemore and Richard Rodriguez of the Fort Lauderdale Police showed-up, not to assist Gates with Sampson, but threaten to arrest him for making harassing 911 calls. When Gates asked the Officers to help carry Sampson downstairs to the car, they refused- citing it was not their job. Gates slept on the floor with Sampson all night. At 4:30 am Gates awoke to find the dog bleeding from the mouth. A few minutes later Sampson was dead. What is a police officer's job or duty? Emblazoned on a police officer's patrol car are the words: "To serve and to protect" While most police officers do serve and protect admirably, there are many who don't; and I would have to say Mortemore and Rodriguez fall into the category of those who don't. Since I have lived in Florida I have seen police officers with the most bizarre duties. Does everybody remember the "thong" patrol? This is where officers were enforcing the ordinance requiring a woman's bathing suit bottom be large enough to cover the "anal cleft"; or how about the vice officers who drink in strip joints and get lap dances while making sure the girls pasties don't fall off. Meanwhile there are maniacs with chain saws out on the loose. I don't fault the vice officers from doing there assigned duties because they are only doing what they are ordered to do, but I do have serious questions of why Mortemore and Rodriguez decided not to assist Gates and Sampson other than a lack of decency and common sense logic. Apparently Mortemore and Rodriguez believe if a duty is not described in the police manual nor from an order from a supervisor then they can sit idly by; and you know where idle hands belong.		The St. Bernard dog was bred by Monks some three hundred years ago in Swiss Alps at the Hospice d' Grand St. Bernard. The St. Bernard is a kind gentle giant known for it's legendary rescues of people trapped in deep snow. It is awful that humans, like Mortemore and Rodriguez, who are paid to serve and protect, refused to help Sampson the St. Bernard Dog. The St. Bernard was bred to rescue humans. Sampson the St. Bernard dog deserved our help and kindness. As a human I am ashamed to what happened to Sampson that night. Black Cat Owners Beware: During Halloween there are many weirdo-creepos that will torture and kill black cats just because there is some notion going back to the middle ages that cats, especially black ones, are associated with witchcraft and heretics. As I mentioned, in my January/February 1997 article in the Pet Tribune, cats were routinely murdered in Europe and almost became extinct in 1400. Because of a lack of cats to kill the rats that carried the infectious bubonic fleas; two thirds of the human population in Europe died. Cat owners should always keep their cats inside at all times, this is especially true during Halloween. Source for the Sampson story: Sun-Sentinel, John Grogan Column, July 31 and August 12, 1998. Steven M. Logan, born in Rochester, N.Y. 1957, B.S. New Hampshire College, 1979, J.D. California Western School of Law, 1983. Former Prosecutor in Broward County, Florida. Private practice emphasizing Criminal Defense (except animal abuse) also practicing Family Law, Pet Law and Animal Rights, and other Civil matters. He can be reached at (954)522-3902, e-mail ZDPR15A@Prodigy.com